Rams offense missing in action against Ravens

Posted by Josh Alper on September 25, 2011, 5:43 PM EST

Getty Images

What’s the problem with Missouri teams and offense?

The Chiefs failed to pick up a first down in the first half against the Chargers, which means that the Rams are only the second-worst offense on display in Week Three. That earns them exactly nothing other than the chance to try to come back from a 27-0 deficit in the final 30 minutes on their home field.

They’ve gained just 81 yards in an abysmal performance at home that’s featured a nightmare of a half for Sam Bradford. The Rams quarterbacked completed just four of his 15 attempts, he was picked off by Lardarius Webb and sacked twice by a Ravens defense that looks ready for everything he’s tried to do thus far.

Steven Jackson’s return has resulted in just three carries as Cadillac Williams has gotten the lion’s share of the work in the backfield. He’s run pretty well — 48 yards on nine carries — but the huge first quarter turned in by Torrey Smith means that running the ball isn’t much of an option for St. Louis once the second half gets underway. Smith is the 12th player in history with three touchdown catches in one quarter and the first rookie ever to have his first three NFL catches all result in touchdowns.

Joe Flacco was 18-of-31 for 264 yards and the three touchdowns and Ray Rice added 102 yards from scrimmage for a Ravens team eager to wash away the bad memories of last week’s loss to the Titans. Barring a Vikings-esque collapse in the second half, they should complete the job and leave the Rams at 0-3 when all is said and done.